It all started when he needed something to do

In three years, Robert Doty has piled up the service to Lakeside’s River Park

In 2008, Robert Doty’s wife, Sherri, encouraged him to find something to do.

“I started driving my wife crazy and she said, ‘Find something to get involved in and something to do,’” he said with a laugh, explaining that health issues had put an end to his accounting career a few years before, which meant he was spending most of his time at home. “She found an online listing at the (Lakeside) River Park... she started to do it with me, and at some point I decided I wanted to do more.”

Doty, 45, lives in Lakeside with his wife; their two daughters and two foster children are all adults now. He started out as a gatekeeper at Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy, which works to “preserve and restore” the environment of the San Diego River and create various opportunities for people in East County. Unlocking and locking the gates of the trail provided exercise because it required walking the length of the trail, making sure no one would be locked in.

He has since become the “lights guy” for the park’s annual fundraiser, stringing holiday lights along the trail, in the trees and over the observation deck, said Cindy Collins, the membership and volunteer manager for the park. One of his primary responsibilities is leading the bird nest box program to attract the Western blue bird and the violet green swallow back to the San Diego Riverbed.

“Boy Scouts build nest boxes to restore the habitats, to get natural birds back into these habitats,” said Doty, who won the park’s highest award last year, the Joan Burnett Memorial Award. He also volunteers to work at the river cleanup events and at the park’s 5k run.

“I’m what they call the ‘right-hand guy.’ If something’s not working or if there’s a problem somewhere, ‘Where’s Robert, because Robert can fix it,’” he said. “I can help someone if they need help. I’m a quick thinker on my feet, and I think that’s why they like to have me around.”

He enjoys the work at the park because the conservation group works to restore the river to its natural state, he said. It can be tough working in 100-degree weather or in the rain, and around snakes or spiders, but he spends at least 20 hours volunteering during an average week, and he believes in the work and that it has positive affects on the environment. Plus, he wanted to try and return a small part of what he feels his community has given him. When he was ill, he and his family received help from community organizations.

“I just felt it was my time to give back. You know, I like giving back to my community because my community has been good to me,” he said.

Do you know of a volunteer who should be in the spotlight? Contact Lisa Deaderick at (619) 293-2503, or lisa.deaderick@uniontrib.com.